Independent Ale House

From the outside, Independent Ale House might look like an old-timey brick saloon on the old-timey drag of Rapid… mainly because you’re in Rapid, and most places look like/are that. But that wild-west aesthetic is augmented by a new-timey attitude toward beer, with a constantly rotating 40-deep tap selection that’s got a surprisingly versatile and thoughtful array of big hitters, with recent offerings including Deschute’s elusive Abyss right alongside local favorite Crow Peak, served up with one of the best pizzas in the Black Hills. For South Dakotans, it’s worth a pilgrimage just to get in on the action. Luckily, the keg volume is available online, so you can check before you make the two-hour trek from the nearest town.

Independent Ale House

From the outside, Independent Ale House might look like an old-timey brick saloon on the old-timey drag of Rapid… mainly because you’re in Rapid, and most places look like/are that. But that wild-west aesthetic is augmented by a new-timey attitude toward beer, with a constantly rotating 40-deep tap selection that’s got a surprisingly versatile and thoughtful array of big hitters, with recent offerings including Deschute’s elusive Abyss right alongside local favorite Crow Peak, served up with one of the best pizzas in the Black Hills. For South Dakotans, it’s worth a pilgrimage just to get in on the action. Luckily, the keg volume is available online, so you can check before you make the two-hour trek from the nearest town.